Witnesses respond to Crimewatch showing unseen CCTV footage of Claudia Lawrence (From York Press)

Witnesses respond to Crimewatch showing unseen CCTV footage of Claudia Lawrence

9:30am Friday 26th February 2010 in

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THE final known movements of missing York chef Claudia Lawrence have been broadcast nationally, as police step up their search for clues.

Previously unseen CCTV footage was shown on BBC1’s Crimewatch show last night, as her father Peter and the man leading the investigation, Detective Superintendent Ray Galloway, appealed once again for evidence and information.

The policeman revealed that detectives had recently travelled to southern Ireland.

He said people who might know something about her movements on Melrosegate were still waiting for police to contact them. He appealed for them to come forward and not wait.

The film showed 35-year-old Claudia leaving work at the Roger Kirk Centre canteen at the University of York at about 2.30pm on March 18 last year, walking up Melrosegate on her way home the same day and posting a letter at Melrosegate Post Office.

There was also footage of a hooded man believed to be the “left-handed smoker” seen near her route to work and a silver car, which was seen stopping in a lay-by in Melrosegate on March 18, 19 and 25.

Police are trying to find out the make and model of the car, to trace the owner and to find out why the car stopped on each of those days.

Witnesses came forward during the programme with information about the car and the couple seen in Melrosegate.

Mr Lawrence said: “It is Claudia’s 36th birthday on Saturday, and for the past 35 birthdays she has been with us so it is a very difficult time.”

Asked how he was managing to cope, he said: “Because of the massive support from the rest of the family and friends and the support from the whole of the public.”

He said Claudia’s friends wanted to have a special day to mark the birthday to “make people aware of the fact this is still going on and Claudia Lawrence is still missing on this, her birthday”.

In York city centre today, Claudia’s family and friends will be releasing balloons and cutting a specially-made cake, while The Press has distributed fresh posters appealing for information.

Det Supt Galloway said for the past 11 months police had been building a comprehensive, but still incomplete, profile of Claudia and her final known movements, and were trying to contact all her friends and partners.

Speaking ahead of the programme, he said: “Tonight’s Crimewatch appeal sends a clear message to those involved in Claudia’s disappearance that the investigation is still very much active and that we will not give up until we find out what has happened to her.

“Someone, somewhere, knows exactly what happened to Claudia and we urge them to put an end to the distress of her family, do the right thing and come forward.” Claudia has been missing since March 18 last year, and police are treating her disappearance as suspected murder.